A few months ago, I decided to rebuild my DCC layout. Well, rebuilt the table, relaid roadbed, track and electronics. Before starting this winter project, I carefully packed up my rolling stock and locomotive. Well, with the layout ready to get back in action, I unpacked the locomotives and they all came to life nicely, but two. They were stored next to each other, one has a QSI Deisel ver. 5 ant the other has a locsound V5 decoder. Checked the pickups and current is decected from the wheel feeds.
I use decoderpro and digitrax pr4 connected to the program track. Tested them with other stored locomotives and they worked fine.
Problem is that these two locomotives will not come to life, either on the layout or thes program track. They worked just fine when I packed them last December.
I would appreciate any tips or advice on how to wake them up. I am at wits end. Thanks
With the QSI diesel, try double-pressing F6 quickly 3x, with a 2-3 sec. delay in-between double-presses. This is the way QSI decoders are woken up after putting them in sleep mode using F9.
In regards to your Loksound 5 decoder: Are you getting any response from the headlights when pressing F0?
It took me awhile but I finally figured that out by accident. You wouldn’t know it by reading the manual. I couldn’t figure out why the sound wouldn’t come on when I started my Empire State Express Hudson. I started pressing buttons at random and every once in awhile, the sound would start up. The next time I would try the same sequence of buttons but nothing would happen. It was only recently that I learned that after starting the loco cold, I had to push function button 3 twice and the sound would start up.
I presume you tried operating them at their cab address. Try operating them on address “3” to see if they somehow reset. You might also try resetting them to factory standard again. The reset for the QSI decoder is a unique 3-CV sequence rather than the standard CV8=8.
QSI are reset using main power. The decoders have a mechanical (hardware) reset also. Either a jumper on the board or a magnetic reed switch.
According to the manual I have one double press of the F6 should be enough to restart a locomotive previously shut down using the F9 key.
The software reset in the manual I have requires entering a value of 255 into CV56.128 for a software reset of all CVs to factory settings. There are other reset options. The manual I have says only a full reset is available for Q2 decoders built after June 1, 2008.
Just the version of their manual I happened to find, don’t know if its current or applicable to your particular decoder but QSI didn’t change the reset procedure as far as I can tell.
Before the firmware update the manual refers to the extent of the software method reset apparently depended on which of three CV’s got what values entered.
Pg. 389 is where the actual reset sequence instructions are located in the QSI manual. If I’m reading it correctly Q1 & Q2 decoders (built before 6/1/08) allowed for resetting of select ranges of CVs. Q2 & Q3 decoders manufactured after that date could only perform the FULL reset.
So, whichever the case - a reset requires values to be changed in three CVs (49, 50, and 56) to successfully reset a QSI decoder. That’s the sequence & values I used when resetting a couple of my older locomotives equipped with QSI sound.
I think Pete’s suggestion is a good one. Try cleaning the wheels with alcohol and a Q-tip swab to assure that gunk is not preventing the decoder from being read. I’ve ran into that problem before on my programming track.
Ok diesels. That eliminates the tender plug. Could they have been in a consist before storage? Even if consisted you should still be able to read on the program track. If wheels and track is clean, then you will have to remove the shells and check the wiring.
Good news, the locomotive with the QSI decoder came back to life. Don’t really know what I did. I stripped down and disconnected the decoder and cleaned every thing I could find. Reassembled and suddenly the lights came and the sound worked. However, no directional movement.
The lok 5 locomotive is still being stubborn. I’ve dismantled it and the trucks are getting .5 from the tracks.
Will let you all know how it progresses. Thanks to all for the inputs
Try F6 as suggested. Your QSI decoder may think the locomotive is parked and just idling (there are three states resulting from F9). QSI included that feature for some reason. More recent decoders do this routinely without needing to press F9 to put them into idle mode.
Are you using a power booster on the programming track? Sound decoders can be odd, with some you need a booster to program them, others you have to not use a booster.